(Reuters) - France's agriculture ministry on Saturday banned the sale, use and cultivation of Monsanto's MON 810 genetically modified maize, the only variety currently authorised in the European Union.

The French government, which maintains that GM crops present environmental risks, has been trying to institute a new ban on GM maize (corn) after its highest court has twice previously struck down similar measures.

The decision is timed to avert any sowing of GM maize by farmers before a draft law is debated on April 10 aimed at banning planting of GMOs (genetically modified organisms).

"The sale, use and cultivation of varieties of maize seed from the line of genetically modified maize MON 810 (...) is banned in the country until the adoption, on the one hand, of a final decision, and secondly, of (EU) community action, " said a decree published on Saturday.

Annual sowing of maize in France gets under way in the second half of March.

The current Socialist government, like its conservative predecessor, has opposed the growing of GMO crops in light of public suspicion and widespread protests from environmentalists.

Longstanding differences between EU countries resurfaced in February when they failed to agree on whether or not to approve another GM maize variety, Pioneer 1507, developed by DuPont and Dow Chemical, leaving the way open to the EU Commission to clear it for cultivation.

France is trying to win support to overhaul the EU rules.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has yet to say yes or no to genetically modified salmon, but the two largest grocery stores in the country have made up their minds. Kroger and Safeway announced today that they will not carry "AquAdvantage" salmon, should the FDA approve it.

The genetically engineered fish developed by AquaBounty is set to become the first genetically engineered animal approved for human consumption. Dubbed the "Frankenfish" by opponents of GMO foods, the salmon has come up against fierce opposition. The FDA received over 1 million letters calling for the agency to not approve AquAdvantage during 2013, in response to anEnvironmental Assessment open to public comment.

AquaBounty recently overcame a regulatory hurdle in Canada, where it has been approved to mass-produce AquAdvantage eggs.

The U.S. currently has no requirement for labeling foods containing GMO ingredients, so it will be difficult for consumers avoid AquAdvantage salmon if it is approved. One could argue that rejecting GMO salmon allows grocery stores to capitalize on anti-GMO sentiment, while continuing to carry many foods with GMO ingredients. However, it seems that producing a genetically engineered animal is more troubling to many than genetically engineered plants.

Should the FDA green-light the fish, opponents of the salmon hope to block AquaBounty's channels to the market. In that regard, today's announcement seems like a major win. Kroger and Safeway join dozens of other grocery stores that have already promised to not carry the genetically engineered fish, including Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Meijer and Aldi.

"Today's announcement by major grocery retailers makes it even more clear that there is no demand for GE salmon," Wenonah Hauter, executive director of Food & Water Watch, said in a statement. "It's time for the FDA to deny the application for this unsustainable and unnecessary new genetically engineered food."
 - orginal article

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2.  Breeding Problems
3.  Beta-carotene Persistence
4.  Bioavailability
5. Biofortification is Risky
6.  No Proof that GR is Safe to Eat
7.  Unethical Trials on Humans

Hawaii's Kauai County Council passed a groundbreaking GMO bill that limits biotech crop and pesticide use on the island of Kauai. The law is set to take effect in August, but three of the world's largest agrochemical companies are now suing to overturn it.

China rejects 59,100 tons of US corn.  China's fifth rejection of cargo since November, citing GMO contamination of strain MIR 162.  (Full Aritcle)